User:WilyD/William Case/George Ferguson

George Ferguson was a Methodist circuit rider.

Ferguson was born on April 1st, 1786 in Caraloon Township, Northern Ireland. Ferguson was an only child, and upon his father's second marriage, he was not well looked after by his parents, although his father was moderately wealthy. Ferguson converted to Methodism around 1806, while living in Belfast, where a strong Methodist awakening was taking place. He married in 1809, and enlisted in the British Army. Before joining the army, his faith had weakened, but his experiences in the army would renew it. He was stationed in Ireland and England until the outbreak of the War of 1812, at which point he was re-assigned to North America. Almost immeadiately after his arrival in Quebec, he participated in the Battle of Lacolle Mills. Afterwards, he was assigned to Kingston. In Kingston, he was billeted by former Methodist preacher Edward Cooper. Through Cooper, he would become acquainted with militia Captain (and future Colonel) Matthew Clarke. Ferguson fought in the Battle of Stoney Creek. Ferguson attended Methodist meetings when he could, and was induced to speak at a quarterly meeting by Henry Ryan. Giving a speech which was well received, Ferguson began to preach at various locations as he travelled, when his duties allowed. Ferguson was a member of the British force that captured Fort Niagara in December of 1813. He was shot in the arm during the Battle of Chippewa, and due to the absence of competent surgeons at the battlefront, the bullet remained in his arm until he could return to York, Upper Canada. As a result, illness fell in and his health declined significantly. After his recovery, he was stationed in Montreal, where he made the acquaintence of Methodist circuit riders Thomas Birch and George McCracken. Ferguson remained in the army until the conclusion of the war, and received a discharge on May 10th, 1816. He was received on trial as a circuit rider 16th June, 1816, and assigned to the Ottawa circuit. He was assigned to the Niagara circuit in 1817, where membership in the Methodist church increased from 396 to 796. He remained on the Niagara circuit in 1818, labouring alongside Isaac B. Smith. Membership in the Methodist church in Niagara decreased from 796 to 690 that year.

In 1819, he was reassigned to the Ancaster circuit, where he rode alongside William Jones. Membership in the Episcopal church on that circuit increased from 582 to 598 that year. He remained on Ancaster in 1820, then alongside Alvin Torry. Membership in the Episcopal church decreased slightly on Ancaster that year. In 1821, he was assigned to the Westminister circuit, where he rode alongside James Jackson. The pair oversaw an increase in church membership of twenty-six. In 1822, he was assigned to the Long Point circuit, where he rode alongside David Culp. In 1823, he returned to the Westminister circuit, where he rode alongside George Sovereign. Circuit membership decreased by 175, owing mainly to the split off of some membership to form a new London circuit. Between the two circuits, total membership increased by 80 people.